I have no opinion on 26vs27.5vs29 other than, I am short, I often feel like 26 is as big a wheel as I can handle. I fear for my future in this sport if Chipps fortune telling comes true.
I raised it with Cy a while back and he intimated that yes I would be better off with 26..

I don't buy it, your average joe who rides an apollo or claud butler does not want to have a million wheel sizes neither do they replace their bike as often as most forum users. So the 26 inch bike is here to stay.

your average joe who rides an apollo or claud butler does not want to have a million wheel sizes

They'll buy a bike and not care 2 hoots about the wheel size. If that's 27.5/650b, then that's what they'll buy. Just liek they don't care or won't even know what headset size, BB type, etc. is installed either.

26in bits will be around for years. Just like 9sp and 8sp, and 7sp components.

It's almost as if a bit of marketing hype means every enthusiast is forced to ditch their entire bike collection and replace with new ones, instantly. Now.

Do you think manufacturers will produce new model forks, tires, and rims for 26"?

If they are selling then yes. Having been out with 10 people I haven't ridden with before this weekend all bar 1 were on 26" bikes, most under 2 years old. There is plenty of market left out there, it's just the New Clothes brigade are shouting from the roof tops trying to be heard more.

Is there ar recession on?
Are marketing mean trying to find "white space"

In the words of David Bowie

"Fa-fa-fa-fa- fashion"

Or Paul Weller

"The public wants what the public gets"

If you really want 650b - just stick it in the 26er frame and be done with it.

Ironically, it does seem to be an admission that the 29ers appeal is limited ... depite the last 3 years of gushing reviews about how they ride themselves up hills, and are faster than the speed of light, all supported by rubbish explainations of physics ....

Why are you two so insanely pleased about that? It's a victory for marketing and yet another pointless new standard.

+1. I do believe any review if note has mentioned that its neither here more there performance wise. I'm not convinced by the marketing and (perhaps luckily) I'm not on the position to jump on the bandwagon.

Consumable parts (bottom brackets, disc pads) will be available for ages and the length of my fork won't change there ability to be serviced.